Ino Yamanaka was one of the most beautiful and if she said herself, down right sexiest kunoichis in konoha. She was sixteen years old waiting for her best friend, Sakura Haruno, at one of her favorite cafe shops for one of their daily hangouts. But her mind was focused on a certain boy and what surprised her was the boy she was thinking about was a boy named Naruto Uzumaki. What started it was the chunin exam when he was able to beat Kiba in a fight and how quick he was to think on his feet, the supposed deadlast. Swing to have also found it romantic how he defended Hinata from her cousin Neji, vowed to avenge her. She had to admit, she started to see her blonde in a new light. When the finals came and he was matched against Neji, she found herself rooting for the blonde louder than Sakura, his own teammate. What made her opinion shoot through the roof is when he comforted her at the loss of her Sensei and ended up beating the akatsuki that killed him along with Shikamaru. She completely underestimated Naruto in terms of abilities and was ashamed of how she treated him when they were younger.
"Hey Ino-pig!" Ino snapped out of her thoughts and saw Sakura approaching. "Sorry I'm late, I had a late shift at the hospital, and if it weren't for a certain baka, I would've been here sooner."
"What do you mean?" Ino asked, even though she had an idea.
"Naruto, he stopped by me on my way here, and asked me out on another date, when will he get it through his thick skull, that i'm not interested." Sakura signed.
"I think you're lucky to have someone like Naruto interested in you, ever since we were kids he was always devoted to you, and plus he is quite handsome." Ino responded.
"But I only see him as a friend, don't get me wrong, I care for him but I only have eyes for Sasuke." Sakura said, before smiling. "If you are so interested in Naruto, why don't you ask him out that way I can have Sasuke." Sakura teased.
Ino blushed but not back down from the pinkette taunt. "You can have Sasuke, and as for Naruto.." Ino put her under her chin in a thinking position. 'I think I will.' Ino smirked
-Ichiraku ramen-
Teauchi and Ayame were looking at their favorite blonde in concern, Naruto was looking at a bowl of ramen instead of eating it and he only ordered one bowl. "Naruto-kun, what's the matter?" Ayame asked in concern.
Naruto signed without looking away from his bow. "Ayame-nee, is there something wrong with me?"
"What do you mean?"
"I asked Sakura-chan on a date," Teuchi and Ayame knew where this was going. "She always says no and I don't know why, I would do anything for her but no matter how many times I asked she won't give me a chance." Naruto said.
"Naruto my boy, any girl would be lucky enough to have you. Don't let Sakura get you down, but I do believe you should move on." Teuchi answered.
"That's right Naruto-kun, you'll find someone else, Sakura don't realize what she is missing out on." Ayame added, causing Naruto to smile. He knew they were trying to cheer him up but he doubted any girl would even like him, he was the dead last of the academy and was the host of the kyuubi. But what he didn't know was that was about to change.
"Hey Naruto." Naruto looked up from his bowl to his side and saw Ino looking at him with a smile blushing a bit.
"Oh, hey Ino what's up?" Naruto greeted with a fake smile, which was recognized by Ino.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Naruto nodded, making the platinum blonde smile and sit down next to him. "So Naruto, how have you been?"
Naruto gave the girl a confused look, he and ino never got along before so why did she care about his well being. "Excuse me for being rude Ino, but why do you care? I thought you hated me." Naruto asked but soon regretted seeing the depressed look on the platinum blonde face. "I'm sorry Ino, I didn't mean."
"It's ok." Ino cut him off. "I deserved that, after all I wasn't the nicest person to you, which is why I came to find you." Ino turned to face him while still sitting and took hold of both his hands causing both the blondes to blush. "Naruto, I'm sorry for how I treated you when we were younger, you didn't deserve it. I was a total bitch and a pathetic child chasing after a guy because of his status but that's no excuse for the way I acted." Ino started
"It's ok Ino, I never really hated you for it. And sorry for snapping at you, I guess I'm still upset for Sakura-chan rejecting me."
"Which brings me to the second reason." Ino started to blush even harder, and looked into her eyes making him blush as well. He never realized but Ino was really beautifu and her eyes were so mesmerizing, lno was thinking similar thoughts about Naruto. Unknown to the blonde duo, they were being watched by the Ichirakus. "Would you like to go on a date with me?"
Naruto's mind was frozen for a moment, gears running in his head trying to process what was happening. One of the top beautiful kunoichi just asked him out on a date. Ino was getting worried but her thoughts stopped when Naruto. "Why would you want to go out with someone like me?"
"Because Naruto, over the years I started to realize how great of a guy you are," Ino started caressing his hand with her fingers with a warm smile on her face. "What impressed me first is when you fought against Kiba, you were able to think on the spot and win against all odds, but what impressed me even more is how you defended Hinata from Neji and beat him, the so-called prodigy and the rookie of the year ahead of us. It was so cool and romantic, I found myself wishing I could hav a guy who would go the distance for me like you do for Sakura."
"But what about Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"I admit at one point of time I had a crush on Sasuke. But after seeing your drive to protect your friends, I realize Sasuke will never be that type of guy, and I can't change that. But you Naruto, have a big heart and put others before your safety, and despite how I treated you in the past, you were still there for me when Asuma-sensei died. You have no hate in your heart and I'm now starting to see what a wonderful guy you are and what forehead is missing out on. So Naruto, what do you say? I know we weren't on the greatest terms but I would like to give us a chance, so I'll ask again. Naruto, would you like to go on a date with me?"
Naruto was taken back by every word, and the fact Ino was interested in him. He thought about it and wondered what he should say. He always thought Sakura would be his one and only but realized that would only lead him to a dead end, so he should probably move on. He looked at Ino and saw the hope in her eyes and how sincere she was making it hard to turn her down and to be honest he had no reason to. Making up his mind, he gave her a warm smile. "Sure Ino-chan, I would love to go out with you."
Ino eyes widen, as a huge smile stretches across her face. She then leapt at the male blonde embracing him in a hug. "Thanks Naruto-kun we're going to have so much fun." she then let go the blonde and put her hands on her hips. "Pick up at 8 tomorrow night and do me a favor, and wear less orange for me."
"What? Why can't"
"Please Naruto-kun, for me?" Ino asked with a puppy dog face. Naruto signed in defeat and didn't want to disappoint the blonde female.
"Fine no orange, promise." He answered with a smile. Ino smiled and kissed him on the cheek as a reward making the both of them blush. "Thanks Naruto-kun, well I got to go get ready for tomorrow, see you later." she was about to walk away but stop and turn back to Naruto. "And don't tell your forehead or any of our friends, I think it'll be more fun to surprise them, and before you ask, you can tell Tsunade-sama, I know she's like a mother to you." Ino left to get ready leaving a stunned Naruto processing what just happened.
"Oh Naruto, I can't believe you got a date. I'm so happy for you?" Ayame cheered.
"Goodjob, my boy. I knew you'd find someone. And of course you are bringing her here right?" Teuchi asked.
"Sorry Teuchi-ji but i don't think this would be an Ideal spot for a first date, and if I did Ino-chan would probably kick my ass." Naruto answered by chuckling.
"Goodjob, I know I wouldn't want to come here for my first date. Tou-san I know you love naruto but ramen for a first date is not exactly romantic." Ayame scolded her father.
"Fine, but bring her here after you two are official, and trust me it'll definitely happen." Naruto nodded and ate his ramen.
"Well thanks for everything but i want to go talk to baa-chan." Ayame nodded and Naruto left bidding the two farewells.
-Hokage office-
"God damn paperwork." Tsunade, the gondaime, was doing paperwork when she heard a lot of noise outside the door. She was going to question it until she heard "baa-chan". A tick mark appeared on her head and she was preparing to throw her desk.
Naruto burst through the door, with his arms sticking out. " Wait baa-chan, please don't throw the desk, I really need your help." Tsunade put the desk down and gave naruto the chance to speak.. "I have a date and I need help with shopping and a little advice."
Faster than light, Naruto was embraced in a hug by his mother figure and his bones felt like they were being crushed, but to his relief he was put down. "Congrats gaki, it's about time, and I thought you would be single for the rest of your life."
"Hehe, well can you help me?"
"Of course I will help, I was waiting for Sakura to finally say yes, I'm surprised you could convince her." Tsunade answered. Naruto started to chuckle nervously after hearing that. "What I say?" Tsunade asked.
"It's not with Sakura." Tsunade was taken back by this assuming it was with the blonde long time crush, but she had to ask. "Really, then who is the lucky lady?" Tsunade heard Naruto mumble something but she couldn't make it out. "Speak louder Gaki."
"It's Ino-chan." Naruto answered.
"Ino? Ino Yamanaka?" Naruto nodded. "How the hell did that happen?" Naruto began to explain the event from the point he asked Sakura out, up to the point he went to ichiraku's and ino showed up and proceeded to tell her the confession ino said in every word. To say Tsunade was surprised was an understatement. She assumed that Sakura or Hinata was going to end up with Naruto but the more she thought about it she realized Ino was like Kushina. She was brash but caring. She was also strong willed. Maybe Ino was the perfect girl for the boy. "Alright I understand and I'll help but first. SHIZUNE, bring me some saki!" Tsunade called.
"Tsunade-sama, what did i tell you about drinking while working." Shizune said walking through the door with a bottle of saki.
"But we're celebrating, the gaki got a date?" Tsunade said, grabbing the bottle and pouring a cup.
"Really? Congrats Naruto-kun, so Sakura finally said yes?" Shizune asked Tsunade to shake her head no confusing Shizune.
"No, believe it or not it's with Ino." Shizune's jaw dropped so fast. She was then told by Naruto how everything went down, making Shizune hug him just like Tsunade but not as hard.
"This is cause for a celebration." Shizune said, while Naruto signed in embarrassment.
